Sat Mar 15, 8:03 PM Pacific • posted by Jed Lewison

Obama picks up at least 5 9 delegates in Iowa

Al Giordano of The Field observes the Iowa results "confirm a trend that is the media is slow to acknowledge: Democratic Party leaders (including those formerly supporting John Edwards) are coalescing overwhelmingly behind Obama. The same trend is evident in how superdelegates nationwide have been breaking throughout the past six weeks toward Obama at a rate of five-to-one."

Update: 8:03pm -- It's 9 delegates. Obama picked up ALL eight Edwards delegates and Clinton LOST one to Obama. Obama picked up 8 of 9 delegates that switched from Edwards to either Clinton or Obama. The final: 25-14-6. On caucus day, it was 16-15-14. That's a NET swing of 10 delegates to Obama -- huge news.

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Original post:

Well this is reassuring news (from Ben Smith at politico.com):

With three of the state's 45 delegates still unallocated, [Obama campaign manager David Plouffe] said, Obama stands at 21, Clinton at 14. On caucus day, the numbers were Obama 16, Clinton 15.

(snip)

The Obama campaign was spinning it as an indicator of where voters are going: "We did very well in the blue-collar areas," said Plouffe, who said Obama had vaulted from third to first in Wapello County.

But these aren't voters — they're activists. And I think it's probably a better indicator of where Democratic elites — read superdelegates — are heading, than of where voters are. And it seems to suggest that, at least in Iowa, Clinton's attacks — which are clearly having an effect in the polls and with voters — are hurting her more than they're hurting him with the activists.

It's also an indication of where former Edwards loyalists would like to see him go. I know that as a former Edwards supporter I hope he endorses Barack Obama. I also know that my closest friends who supported Edwards also now support Obama. Same thing for my family.